India’ rabi crops sowing up by 2.3 MN hectares

India has recorded an increase in rabi crops sowing as on December 16, 2016 at 51.92 million hectares, up by 2.3 million hectares.

NEW DELHI: India has recorded an increase in rabi crops sowing as on December 16, 2016 at 51.92 million hectares, up by 2.3 million hectares.

During the same period last year, rabi sowing was recorded at 49.04 million hectares, the Indian agriculture ministry said in a statement.

Wheat sowing has recorded an increase to 25.61 million hectares, as compared to 23.94 million hectares.

Pulses sowing have also increased to 13.18 million hectares, as compared to 11.70 million hectares sowed as on December 16, 2015.

Oilseeds too showed and increase at 7.43 million hectares, as compared to 6.95 million hectares.

Though rice sowing recorded a drop to 844,000 hectares, as against 1.19 million hectares sowed as on the same month last year and coarse cereals also dropped to 4.85 million hectare, as compared to 5.25 million hectares, the statement adds.